Specialist clipper blades

Choosing the correct grade of clipper blade will help achieve a seamless finish. Sometimes a specialist blade is needed depending on the condition and type of coat, time of year, and the depth of the finished clip that is required.

Summer clipping usually means clipping finer, softer coats to a close depth, and achieved with a fine blade.

Skimming blades are great for keeping on top of the extra hair growth on cobs, these are referred to as Covercoat/covercote blades depending on the brand.

He is a rough guide to the depth of cutting.  For accuracy, it’s best to check the details on the packaging relating to the brand that you will be using.

• Surgical – 1.00mm

• Fine – 1.4mm

• Medium 2.0mm

• Coarse 2.5mm

Covercote (Lister brand) 5mm

Covercoat (Liveryman brand) 4.8mm

For challenging coat conditions that are matted, curly, or thick, a Coarse, or Wizard blade (Lister brand) would be a good choice.  Each tooth has a wider spacing enabling the blade to get into dense hair effectively.  Once the coat is removed, a medium blade can be used to tidy and give a smooth finish.

For fine or soft-coated animals, a fine blade leaving around 1.4 mm will give a very close but neat finish.  However, if you have a grey, a medium grade leaving around 2mm is the better grade to select as it will leave a line-free finish as well as give protection to the more sensitive pink skin.

For grading, the only blade that has an add-on comb attached and can be used on a full-size Lister clipper is the Hog/Dog lifter blade. This is available in two grades - clipping to either 13mm or 19mm and is suitable for coarse-coated animals as well as for clipping thick feathers on horses.  Originally designed for clipping coarse hog hair.

Add-on combs are also a useful addition.  They are designed to slide onto the #10 snap-on blade for grading and blending for both dogs and horses.